A set of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPls) have been developed that provide

a means of scoring soil health; water quality; biodiversity, industry health; and carbon

emission performance of an enterprise.

The soil and water indicators can be used to translate changes in practice to changes in

soil and water resource conditions while biodiversity indicators provide a semi quantitative

indication of vegetation and riparian condition. The carbon emission

indicators are included in recognition of greenhouse gas emissions being a new issue that requires development of understanding. Industry health has been included to provide a gauge of an industries commitment to environmental management.

The proposed EPls have been compared to and are consistent with those being

proposed by the beef and grains industries in their respective NRM programs. In

addition, the proposed EPls reflect the objectives of several NRM bodies.

Initial assessment of the EPls and the use of indicators in general has indicated that

even simple indicators (e. g. soil cover) are much harder to use in the real world due to spatial and temporal variability. It is evident and growers do not regularly collect

quantitative estimates of inputs or outputs. From a grower's perspective the primary

measure of NRM performance is based on maintaining farm productivity and profitability.

This knowledge gives an indication that it will be difficult to establish new orfonnal

indicators unless there is a) a direct and immediate benefit to the grower; by the process is simple and rapid and c)training and support is available to demonstrate benefits.

A system for collation and spatial aggregation of EPls is required for reporting at

catchment, region and industry scales. Currently there are several related activities

involving electronic capture of performance indicators. This dispersion of effort across industries will require some rationalisation if there is to be wide spread adoption of environmental performance measurement and reporting.

Web based Cotton Greenhouse Gas and Irrigation WUE calculators have been proposed as simple tools for estimating carbon emissions and WUE. These tools need to be further developed to be more educative. Currently, the logic behind calculations is not readily accessible, and the ability to learn about management options to improve on-farm management is limited as a result.

While a set of EPls has been developed, a range of approaches is required to

demonstrate NRM credentials including; random stratified surveys, establishment of

reference sites as benchmarks, monitoring of sentinel sites, remote sensing and

publication of case studies. A range of approaches is required to support communication of an industry's environmental management, with different audiences requiring different styles of information.